Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.
READ: New PCG rules set to fight harassment
THE National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) is formulating new guidelines on how the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will respond to acts of harassment in the West Philippine Sea. The task force felt the need for a new set of rules after a China Coast Guard ship flashed a military-grade laser at a PCG vessel last February 9. The PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, told The Manila Times the agency "will always base its actions particularly in the West Philippine Sea on the rules on the use of force." He said the PCG was reviewing and formulating new procedures as to how it will respond to another laser-pointing again or any other forms of harassment that the Chinese coast guard will do. The NTF-WPS was formed in 2016 to resolve the perceived lack of coordination between agencies, including the coast guard and the navy, when it comes to protecting of the country's interests in the West Philippine Sea, at a time when China has become more aggressive in asserting in territorial claims in the South China Sea. The task force is composed of undersecretaries from 15 different government agencies, with the national security adviser as chairman. Tarriela said the United States and Japan are also helping the Philippines build up its defense capability, particularly that of the coast guard, to better protect its interest in the West Philippine Sea.
READ: 'Economy needs restructuring to sustain growth'
AN economics expert proposed the restructuring of the economy to make growth sustainable. Guesting in SMNI's "Business and Politics" program hosted by The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd, Ateneo de Manila University Economics Department chairman Prof. Alvin Ang said that while the economy "may have grown beyond expectations" last year, it must be understood that the country returned to its pre-pandemic level of growth. Still, ANg said, this should be a cause for celebration because it was achieved faster. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, resulting in a 7.6 percent full-year growth. Among the major economic sectors, industry and services posted impressive growths in the fourth quarter of 4.8 percent and 9.8 percent, respectively. Agriculture, forestry and fishing (AFF), however, shrunk by -0.3 percent.
READ: Aparri vice mayor, 5 aides killed in ambush
The vice mayor of Aparri town, Rommel Alameda, and five others riding with him in a car were killed in an ambush here on Sunday. The Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Police Office (NVPPO) identified the other victims as Duane Alameda, Jun Ramos, Ismael Nanay, Alvin Abel and Alex de los Santos. Alameda's group was in a black Hyundai Starex with license plate KOV 881 when the vehicle stopped because of a barricade blocking the road as it approached the subvillage of Kinacao in Baretbet village, this town. When the Starex slowed down, six masked gunmen in urban camouflage uniforms emerged and started firing at the vehicle. The gunmen then retrieved the long firearms inside the Starex before leaving the crime scene. Police said footage from close circuit television tagged the getaway car as a white Mitsubishi Adventure with license plate SFN 713, indicating that it is a government vehicle. The victims were brought to the Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center but were all declared dead on arrival. Police said the ambushers fled toward Solano town. Maj. Jolly Villar, NVPPO spokesman, said checkpoints have been set up following the ambush.
READ: Turkish teen filmed 'last moments' from quake-hit apartment
A 17-year-old high school student has captured Turkish hearts after he filmed a farewell message to his loved ones as he was trapped under the rubble of his home during last week's earthquake. Taha Erdem and his family were fast asleep when a 7.8-magnitude quake hit their hometown of Adiyaman in the early hours of February 6. Taha was abruptly woken by violent tremors shaking the four-story apartment building in a blue-collar neighborhood of the central Anatolian city. Within 10 seconds, Taha, his mother, father, and younger brother and sister were plunging downward with the building. He found himself alone and trapped under tons of rubble, with waves of powerful aftershocks shifting the debris, squeezing his space amid the mangled mess of concrete and twisted steel. Taha took out his cellphone and began recording a final goodbye, hoping it would be discovered after his death. But Taha was pulled from the rubble two hours later by neighbors and taken to an aunt's home. Ten hours after the quake, his parents and siblings were also saved by local residents who dug at the wreck of the building with their bare hands and whatever tools they could find.
Topping Business
READ: PH price problems 'self-inflicted'
THE government should review its policies and programs if it wants to effectively address inflation, a Monetary Board member and a former Cabinet official said last Friday. "Politically easy" policies have held back production of commodities that are now driving inflation, Monetary Board member Bruce Tolentino told an Ateneo de Manila University economic briefing. Former socioeconomic planning secretary Cielito Habito, meanwhile, said the country's faster inflation rate shows that much of the price problems are self-inflicted. Tolentino, an economist who previously served as undersecretary at the Agriculture department and chief of the International Rice Research Institute, noted that inflation was now being driven by commodities other than rice. Productivity and competitiveness should be prioritized, Tolentino said, with support for farmers to be provided only to help them make the required transition.
In Sports
READ: Unknown McClung bags Slam Dunk crown
Portland's Damian Lillard won the Three-Point Contest and unheralded Mac McClung captured the Slam Dunk Contest crown on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at NBA All-Star Game weekend festivities. Seven-time NBA All-Star Lillard, a member of the US Tokyo Olympic gold medal team, was a college star at nearby Weber State, adding to his joy at winning the long-range shootout in his third attempt. The shocker came in the Slam Dunk Contest when McClung, called up from the developmental G-League by the Philadelphia 76ers earlier in the week, captured the dunk crown with a perfect score in the final. The 6-foot-2 (1.88m) guard from rural Virginia had played only four NBA games. After accepting the trophy from Julius Erving, McClung vowed to defend his crown, something few NBA stars do. McClung added his name to a history of dunk champions that includes Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant. Among past 3-point champions were Larry Bird, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
READ: Woods fires impressive 67 at Riviera
World No. 3 Jon Rahm fired a bogey-free six-under par 65 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to grab a three-shot lead at Riviera, where Tiger Woods thrilled fans with a four-under par 67. Rahm, who can return to number one with a victory, hit just five of 14 fairways but moved past overnight leader Max Homa, putting himself in position to capture a third US PGA Tour title of 2023. His 15-under par total of 198 put him three clear of Homa, whose two-under par 69 for 201 kept him one in front of Keith Mitchell, who also posted a 69. Rahm is seeking a third title of the year after victories at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii and at La Quinta, California, in his next event. His hot start followed a strong autumn in Europe, where he won a third Spanish Open title in October and the DP World Tour Championship in November. It all has him in position to grab the number one spot from American Scottie Scheffler, who supplanted Rory McIlroy with his Phoenix Open win last Sunday.
READ: Opinion/Editorial
Today's editorial tackles the problem of aging farmers who could add to food insecurity. Read the full version on print, on digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad are the featured columnists on the front page. Tiglao says the ICC report vs Duterte was based solely on Rappler, biased media reports; Aquino takes on Charter change; and Tatad on war footing with China.
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This is Paulo Dimaapi reporting.